Being part of a community

Whether you've travelled half way around the world or just up the road to be a part of Durham University, you'll soon feel like your college is a place where you belong.

Every college is incredibly friendly, offering a warm, supportive welcome to help you settle in and feel part of the smaller-scale college community, whatever your background, nationality or personality.

Every college has a diverse mix of undergraduates, postgraduates and staff from different academic disciplines and backgrounds. All live, eat, study and relax together in college creating a strong sense of allegiance and community between students and staff. College porters are on hand day and night to to help with any issues, and the catering and housekeeping staff will become familiar faces to you.

Your college is probably where you'll make your closest friends, socialising together in the bar, TV lounge or games room, and during the regular 'formal' dinners and student-organised events.For most of you, those friendships and loyalties formed in college will stay with you for many years after leaving University.

You still have all the benefits of a larger University setting - central facilities and services for sports, study and socialising - but you can always come back to your college where faces are familiar and you feel you belong.

Being a member of a college is like being in a family. It is a brilliant system that allows you to explore your potential academically alongside growing and discovering your strengths as an individual.

John Sheard, Van Mildert College

Meet Isabel...

"Being part of College is amazing. There is a real sense of belonging and community spirit. Being part of the sports, music and drama societies within the College, as well as socialising, are great ways of meeting people and making friends. The College provides great support, making it possible for you to make the best of your time here."